Carbarns Colliery

Overview

William Hudspith and Co.'s colliery near the old Cambusnethan graveyard by Wishaw, once known as the Old Graveyard Pit, working the Main, Ell, Splint and Pyotshaw coals in faulted ground. On 12 February 1900 firedamp in a new Ell Coal heading exploded, killing the manager, the oversman, the fireman and an oncostman. Its seams were abandoned by 1909.

History

Carbarns Colliery belonged to William Hudspith and Co. and stood near the old Cambusnethan graveyard by Wishaw; at one time it was known as the Old Graveyard Pit. Its ground was riddled with 'troubles', faults that brought different seams to the same level, so all the coal was brought to one level and mines were driven up or down to each seam. It worked the Main and Splint coals, with the Ell and Pyotshaw.

In February 1900 the Ell Coal, about seven fathoms above the Main, was being opened up by a stone mine driven up from the Main and a blind pit raised to it for a second airway. The air was feeble and gas had given trouble. On 12 February the place was found full of gas and the miners were sent home; that afternoon the manager, oversman, fireman and an oncostman were trying to clear it when it exploded and killed all four (see Disasters, below).

Abandonment plans for its Splint, Ell and Main workings date from 1883, 1897 and 1899, and the last, for the Main, Pyotshaw, Ell and Splint, from 1909.

Geology

Faulted ground in which the Main, Ell, Splint and Pyotshaw coals lay at different levels; the Ell Coal lay about seven fathoms above the Main and gave off firedamp.

Workings

Mines driven up and down from a common level to each seam across the faults; a stone mine and a blind pit to the Ell Coal in 1900.

Closure

Its last workings, in the Main, Pyotshaw, Ell and Splint coals, were abandoned in 1909.

What remains

Unknown.

Redevelopment

Unknown.

Disasters & major incidents

• Carbarns Colliery explosion, 1900
  12 February 1900 · Explosion · 3 fatalities
  At a quarter to one on 12 February 1900 the manager, oversman, fireman and an oncostman at Carbarns Colliery, Wishaw, were trying to clear firedamp from a new heading in the Ell Coal when it exploded. The manager, Henry Danks, was killed; the oversman, fireman and oncostman also died.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• Carbarns Colliery belonged to William Hudspith and Co. ^1,2
• It was once known as the Old Graveyard Pit, from the nearby Cambusnethan old graveyard. ¹
• In 1900 the Ell Coal was being opened by a stone mine from the Main Coal and a blind pit. ^1,2
• An explosion on 12 February 1900 killed the manager Henry Danks, the oversman George Hill, the fireman James Dickson and the oncostman William Knox. ^1,2,3,4,5
• Its Main, Pyotshaw, Ell and Splint workings were abandoned in 1909. ⁶

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Scottish Mining Website: Carbarns 1900 — Scottish Mining Website
2. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Henry Danks, Carbarns, 12 February 1900 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: William Knox, Carbarns, 12 February 1900 — Northern Mine Research Society
4. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: George Hill, Carbarns, 1900 — Northern Mine Research Society
5. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: James Dickson, Carbarns, 1900 — Northern Mine Research Society
6. (primary) BGS / Mining Remediation Authority mine plan: Carbarns (Main and Pyotshaw), abandoned 1909 — British Geological Survey

Record created: 11 October 2026 · Last researched: 11 October 2026